Shooting Gallery

Dewey Andreas #7.5

by Ben Coes

A new short story by New York Times bestselling thriller writer Ben Coes — with time running out, Dewey Andreas is the last hope for a prominent kidnapping victim.

The newly sworn in Vice President of the United States has a problem. Her son, off in college, doesn't care for his security detail. So when Spring Break comes around, he slips away from his bodyguard, picks up his best friend, and heads to Mexico for an intended week of sun, sand, women, and hoped-for debauchery. But when he arrives at the airport, a team of well-armed kidnappers grab both him and his friend and escape. Now they're demanding that an exorbitant ransom be paid in only a few hours — and if it's not, both boys will be killed.

Dewey Andreas, CIA operative and former Delta, happens to be in Mexico, taking some time away and helping friends Katie Fox and Rob Tacoma with a private job. Hoping to relax, Andreas is now the only hope these two young men have of surviving their misadventure. But Mexico is a big country and, before anything else, Dewey has to find the missing boys. Even then, it's a race against the clock, with a highly-trained group of vicious men waiting at the other end.

An original Dewey Andreas short story by bestseller Ben Coes.

Genres: Thriller, Fiction, Audiobook, Espionage, Action, Short Stories, Suspense

40 pages, Kindle Edition

First published June 5, 2018

About the author

Hi and thanks for visiting my Goodreads profile!

I'm a New York Times, USA Today, and Wall Street Journal bestselling author of international political and espionage thrillers. Nine of these books are part of a series featuring Dewey Andreas, including:

Power Down #1
Coup D'Etat #2
The Last Refuge #3
Eye for an Eye #4
Independence Day #5
Trap the Devil #6
First Strike #7
Bloody Sunday #8

The Russian is the first book in a new spin-off series about the Russian Mafia, starring Rob Tacoma.

My next book The Island comes out this summer and is available for pre-order.

All of my books are based on current events and are strongly influenced by friends who are or were in the military, law enforcement, and intelligence circles.

I went to Columbia College and was awarded the university's highest writing award, the Bennett Cerf Memorial Prize for Fiction. I was a White House Intern under Ronald Reagan and served as a White House-appointed speechwriter to the U.S. Secretary of Energy during the Gulf War. I was a Fellow at Harvard University’s Kennedy School of Government.

I lives in Massachusetts with my wife and children.

I hope you'll visit my website and sign-up for my newsletter: https://bencoes.com

Thanks for being a reader!!

Reviews

[Matt · Rating 3 out of 5]

Ahead of this summer’s latest full-length Dewey Andreas thriller, Ben Coes teases the reader with a short story with his high-octane protagonist. Andreas is down in Mexico, helping to facilitate a ransom payment and letting off a little steam. However, whenever Dewey wants to relax, trouble seems to follow him and it’s a bloodbath to some degree. When the newly sworn-in US vice-president’s son is kidnapped and held in Mexico, a few calls are made and Dewey is tasked with trying to facilitate a covert recovery. Heart still pumping from a barroom brawl, Dewey targets the likely location of the victims and sets a plan in motion. A tense situation could get worse, unless Dewey’s on his toes throughout the harrowing rescue attempt. Coes whets the appetite of his series fans and offers a teaser of the upcoming novel, sure to be as exciting as ever. Those who love Dewey Andreas pieces will surely enjoy this story, which helps lessen the waiting time until the explosive operative can entertain again.

I enjoy Ben Coes and his writing, hoping that his ideas continue to propel Dewey Andreas to new heights. While this was a short piece, the reader is tossed into the middle of the adventure and given no time to relax. Andreas is a rock-hard operative who just wants to enjoy a little downtime, though it seems to pass him by at every turn. With a new political player in the narrative, one can only wonder if this will prove to be a thorn in Andreas’ side over the next few novels. However, at this point, the narrative helps develop a few characters effectively enough to keep the reader satisfied, if only for a short time. The story was decent, though its brevity turned the rescue mission into something as swift as a flash-bang grenade reaction, tying off all the needed loose ends before the reader can truly enjoy what’s taking place. One might say that the bar fight that preceded this mission had more content to it, leaving the climactic event seem almost an essential afterthought. That being said, it has me ready to devour the next Dewey Andreas novel, which awaits me now.

Kudos, Mr. Coes, for this short piece that pulls no punches. I am happy to have stumbled upon this one and hope the novel is as exciting as this short piece.

Love/hate the review? An ever-growing collection of others appears at:
http://pecheyponderings.wordpress.com/

A Book for All Seasons, a different sort of Book Challenge: https://www.goodreads.com/group/show/...

[Tim · Rating 3 out of 5]

Short story awaiting development for the full novel version. 6 of 10 stars

[SteVen Hendricks · Rating 4 out of 5]

ebook Review - This is a very good short story that makes me want more. The new Vice President's son slips away from his protection with his friend. They head off to Mexico and are kidnapped shortly afterwards. Just so happens that Dewey Andreas is in Mexico. Kinda makes you feel sorry for the kidnappers! Very fast paced and very engaging. This short story was a prequel to Coes’ Bloody Sunday novel. One of my favorite action thriller short stories - pure excitement!

[Glen · Rating 4 out of 5]

A great intense short story featuring Dewey Andreas and his buddies Rob and Jennifer.

The wastrel son of the newly minted first female Vice President of the United States ditches his security detail to go on spring break in Mexico. He is promptly kidnapped. Dewey and company have to get him back.

Very exciting.

[Howard · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 Stars for Shooting Gallery: Dewey Andreas, Book 7.5 (audiobook) by Ben Coes read by Ari Fliakos.

I decided to give this series a try by listening to this short story from the middle of the series. I liked the action and the characters and I’m going to go and check out the first book and see how the story began.

[Marika Charalambous · Rating 5 out of 5]

A very short novella involving a kidnapping for ransom case, one that Dewey Andreas is perfect to handle. The book is fast-paced, action-packed and, well, very short. I enjoyed it, although I found myself drawn even more to the preview chapters of the new novel to be published next month. I can't wait to read that soon.

Full review: https://mysterysequels.com/book-revie...

[Allen Thomas]

Shooting Gallery

I am not a fan of short stories, but this book works. You get to see the team in action and there is a nice conclusion. I wouldn't mind a little more, but it is a great story.

[Benjamin Thomas · Rating 4 out of 5]

This Dewey Andreas short is a quick, taut story featuring Dewey and his pals Katie and Tacoma from the private security firm, "RISCON" as they work a rescue of the US Vice President's son in Mexico. Its a nice little story but certainly not necessary to read as part of the larger series.

Enjoyed it.

[Rod Gregg · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ben Coes wrote on a bar napkin once. It hit the NYT best seller list in 4 days. And then it went digital and he bought a vacation cabin on the Wonderland Trail in Acadia. He named it the Dewey Drop Inn. Ben is talented in any medium, even wet, sticky ones that are scented like pine and charred oak barrels. Sometimes, wetting your appetite is the best way to quench it. Thankfully, he graduated from bar napkins to novels and for that, we are all thankful.

[James Holden · Rating 3 out of 5]

Too chopped up.

[Kay · Rating 4 out of 5]

Way too short, but it was fun. Hector, Dewey, Katie and Tacoma .... I need more!

[Nolan · Rating 3 out of 5]

This really is a short story. I finished it in about an hour and 15 minutes of sleeplessness in the quiet of an early morning. Granted, I sped it up, but it’s short even at normal speed, and the narration is excellent.

CIA operative and former Delta Dewey Andreas is in Mexico helping his friends, Rob and Katie, with a project. He’s hoping to get in some relaxation while he’s down there. But alas, that wasn’t meant to be.

The new female vice president, who treated Dewey’s boss, Hector, horribly when she was in the senate, has an issue only Dewey can resolve. It seems her son and a buddy gave the secret service the slip and headed down to Mexico for some spring-break debauchery and fun. But someone kidnaps the young men and demands a ridiculously high ransom.

There’s never enough time in a short story to really get you involved, but that’s the structure of the story, not the fault of the author. He has only so much space to bring everything together. Like all too many short stories, this one felt rushed and less impactful than it might have been.

[dennis barron · Rating 5 out of 5]

Shooting Gallery. Ben Coes

The new vice presidents son and his friend have been kidnapped in Mexico. They ditched their Secret Service watcher in Washington and thought they had fooled everyone. Upon landing in Mexico, an FBI agent was waiting. Moral to this escapade, don't use your credit card. Upon arrival while reroute to the FBI agent's vehicle, the kidnappers murder the agent and forcibly take the two young men.Dewey and two other agents are already in Mexico and are tasked with finding and recovery of the two young men. Non stop action! I enjoyed this book immensely!

[Ashima Jain · Rating 4 out of 5]

After reading some of my favourite thriller writers this year, I realised I was missing Dewey Andreas. More so considering he appears to be lying low this year (translation: there will be no Dewey Andreas book in 2019, as far as my information goes). So, after a little poking around on Amazon, I found this Dewey Andreas Short which I immediately downloaded to my device.

Even at 55 pages, Coes packs in a dollop size serving of action, thrill, and Dewey's trademark wit. This was precisely what I needed to get me through the months until his next novel - The Russian - starring Rob Tacoma, comes out.

[Dee · Rating 3 out of 5]

I'm headed off to Mexico, so downloaded this short story, as it takes place in Mexico. I really enjoyed the quick read. I was impressed with how thrilling it was for being so short. The author is a good writer. My one complaint would be that there were a couple of characters that were introduced but didn't go anywhere. They were completely unnecessary as far as I'm concerned, but maybe there is a thread running through the series that I am unaware of. I'd definitely read another book by this author.

[Tracy T. · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really love Dewey Andreas, So, any short story is worth a listen. I also enjoy the additional characters of Kate and Tacoma that came along earlier in the series, they are great additions.

This was a very short story and of course Dewey gets the job done.

As for the narration. HMMMMMM.... I miss Peter Hermann and/or Jay Snyder. This was a short story so Ari Fliakos does an okay job.

I am starting book 8 Bloody Sunday which is narrated again by Ari Fliakos, but I am hopeful. I know the story will be great.

[Steve O'Keefe · Rating 2 out of 5]

Nowhere near the quality of Coes' novels. The pacing is way off with an ending so rushed and anti-climactic I wouldn't be surprised if you told me Coes tapped it out on his cell phone from an airline seat with a flight attendant urging him to shut it off before takeoff. I won't let this deter me from reading the next novel in the series, but this was well below what I've come to expect from a Dewey Andreas book.

[Richard Guerrero · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good quick story. He might be a little better with the short story so he does not have time to bring in way too many plots. In saying that, he still cannot help himself. The bar fight, pool stick in the head under the ear, in the ribs, and they still get up and go fight even though they’re intoxicated. Had the plane go sideways between the buildings, he just has to throw all those unbelievable parts in there.

[Greg Oaster · Rating 5 out of 5]

Nice and quick

Almost too quick. I know it's a short story but this story is like a condensed version of a readers digest condensed version of old. Needless to say, this is not your typical Dewey book. Not a lot of substance, just quick and to the point. I bet Dewey wished all of his missions were this simple and easy

[Robert Chapman · Rating 4 out of 5]

I can only give this short novella a 4 on 5 stars. The story seems to be designed to introduce a new US Vice President after the previous one was killed in book 7. To be honest, there isn't really much to the story. More important though is that this book is labelled as 7.5, yet in book 8 the new VP is not yet installed.

Still not a bad read, but very bland.

[Trish R. · Rating 4 out of 5]

No matter what all these silly reviewers say this was a cute little story. It taught the kid, Toby, a lesson in ditching your security.

No romance and no swearing.

As for the narration: If the voices of the characters in the 8th book are anything like the 7.5 short story I'm not going to like it. Dewey's voice is nondescript. He won't stand out like he did in the other books.

[Ricki · Rating 2 out of 5]

A super short story with Dewey, Katie and Rob Tacoma. They are on a vacation in Mexico when they get a call from Calibrisi asking them to rescue the VP's son who has ditched his Secret Service protection at college.

Stupid choice by the kid, lame story (Rob & Dewey getting sloshed in a bar and beaten-stupid) and a super quick rescue mostly by Katie!

[Rob · Rating 3 out of 5]

Brief short story. Does advance the story a bit with the new Vice President and Hector. Somewhat more unbelievable than most Dewey Andreas stories. Mostly dissatisfied with the shortness and simplicity of the plot, but a Dewey story is always good.

[Greg · Rating 3 out of 5]

Mildly entertaining short story that reads like a novella or full length novel with a bunch of sections and details simply stripped out. It commits the writing sin of telling "about" instead of just telling.

[Brian Rueger · Rating 2 out of 5]

Lots of highly unlikely stuff in this book.

A guy flying an aircraft that hardly knows anything about flying and the aircraft - and at night even.

Dropping from an aircraft into the ocean. Dropping into the ocean and having your cell phone still working.

[Greer Andjanetta · Rating 2 out of 5]

A short story featuring BC's assassin superhero Dewey Andras. The usual slaughter of bad guys while rescuing two kidnapped Americans. Writing is good, as usual and the story is easy to read although not very original or innovative. Designed to appeal to violence-lovers.

[Ed Howland · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very solid entry into the series.

[Douglas Barrow · Rating 5 out of 5]

Classic Dewey. Tacoma and Katie do there part in the quick romp into Mexico to rescue the Vice Presidents son and his friend.

[R Ricalde · Rating 3 out of 5]

OK short story. Very short. Old worn out plot. Good to have Dewey back but Coes needs to e sure to keep Andreas true to himself.

[Sheldon · Rating 5 out of 5]

Love the series and the characters. Waiting for the next full story. Fun quick read.